Device for releasable attachments of objects to a mobile unit

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for the releasable attachment of objects such as a child&#39;s seat to a motor vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first disk adapted to be fixed to the vehicle and a second disk adapted to be fixed to the child&#39;s seat, the disks adapted to be coupled together and centered about a common axis of symmetry. The first disk includes a plurality of locking pins and the second disk includes a corresponding plurality of locking apertures such that the disks can be adjusted between a first relative position in which the locking pins and apertures are disengaged and a second relative position in which the locking pins and apertures are engaged, and an axial slidable core for adjusting the locking pins and apertures between these first and second relative positions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an arrangement for releasableattachment of an object to a mobile unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several different applications exist for which there is a need for meansfor a simple and safe attachment of a movable object, such as a child'sseat to a vehicle, such as a car, a bicycle, a child's cart, and thelike. The conventional method for attachment of a child's seat to avehicle is to use a variety of straps which are fastened to a vehicleseat, or to utilize specially arranged loops in the seat itself or in afoot board. One problem with these methods has been that the safetylevel has varied to a great extent, and that, in any event, no rigidlyfixed attachment has been obtained, which has resulted in a risk of thechild seat turning over in the event of an accident. Another problem hasbeen that the fixing points have varied from one vehicle to anotherwhich has given rise to compromise solutions by the child seatmanufacturers.

A standardized solution has been suggested, which has involved a rigidfixture having four fixing points, and which thus results in a safeattachment. Up to now, this standard solution has required acorresponding engagement apparatus in a child seat having fourattachment points. In this regard, there is a risk that it might bedifficult to accomplish a safe connection at all four of these points ina single movement. Another standardized solution has been suggested,which has involved two fixing points, which therefore requires in somecases additional points of support such as in the form of adjustableupright members.

From British Patent No. 2,288,328, for example, there is shown areleasable attachment device which requires both a linear and a rotarymotion in order to obtain a locking position. Furthermore, thepreviously known mechanism requires a comparatively large height,thereby resulting in a disadvantageously high location of a child'sseat, for example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an attachment devicewhich is easy to use and which has a high degree of reliability, bymeans of which, for example, it is impossible to obtain insufficientattachment.

In accordance with the present invention, this and other objects havebeen realized by the invention of apparatus for the releasableattachment of an object to a movable unit, the apparatus including afirst engagement member having a first guiding support surface adaptedto be fixed to the movable unit and a second engagement member having asecond guiding support surface adapted to cooperate with the firstguiding support surface and to be fixed to the object, whereby whenengaged with each other the first and second engagement members areadapted to be centered about a common axis of symmetry, one of the firstand second guiding support surfaces comprising the outer surface of oneof the first and second engagement members and the other of the firstand second guiding support surfaces comprising the inner surface of theother of the first and second engagement members, the first engagementmember including a plurality of first locking members and the secondengagement member including a plurality of second locking members forcooperating with the plurality of first locking members, whereby thefirst and second engagement members can be adjusted between a firstrelative position in which the plurality of first locking members andthe plurality of second locking members are disengaged, and a secondrelative position in which the plurality of first locking members andthe plurality of second locking members are lockingly engaged, a firstadjustment member affixed to one of the first and second engagementmembers and a second adjustment member affixed to the other of the firstand second engagement members for adjusting the plurality of firstlocking members and the plurality of second locking members between thefirst and second relative positions. Preferably the one of the first andsecond guiding support surfaces defines a dome-shaped surface and theother of the first and second guiding support surfaces defines acup-shaped surface.

In accordance with one embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention, the one of the first and second guiding support surfacescomprises a first surface provided at an angle with respect to the axisof symmetry and a second surface provided substantially parallel to theaxis of symmetry. Preferably, the the first surface has the shape of aconical jacket, and the second surface has the shape of a cylindricaljacket.

In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention, the plurality of first locking members comprises a pluralityof locking pins substantially radially projecting with respect to theaxis of symmetry for engagement with the plurality of second lockingmembers when the first and second engagement members are in the secondrelative position. Preferably, the plurality of second locking memberscomprises a plurality of recesses corresponding to the plurality oflocking pins.

In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention, the first adjustment member comprises an axially movablemember movable between an initial position and a depressed position,whereby the axially movable member can be in the depressed position whenthe first and second engagement members are in the first relativeposition and in the initial position when the first and secondengagement members are in the second relative position. In a preferredembodiment, the first adjustment member is associated with the firstengagement member and the second adjustment member is associated withthe second engagement member, the first engagement member includingapertures means and the second engagement member including correspondingprojection means, whereby when the first and second engagement membersare engaged with each other and the projection means are not engaged inthe aperture means, the projection means urges the axially movablemember into the depressed position, and when the projection means areengaged in the aperture means the axially movable member is in theinitial position.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention, the plurality of first locking members are connectedto the axially movable member whereby when the plurality of firstlocking members are disengaged from the plurality of second lockingmembers the axially movable member is in the depressed position, andwhen the plurality of first locking members are engaged with theplurality of second locking members the axially movable member is in theinitial position.

In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the presentinvention, the second adjustment member includes a control handle, thecontrol handle being engageable with the axially movable member wherebywhen the control handle is actuated to depress the axially movablemember the plurality of first locking members is disengaged from theplurality of second locking members.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention, the apparatus provides for the releasable attachmentof a child's seat to a motor vehicle, the child's seat being the objectand the automobile being the movable unit. In a preferred embodiment,the other of the first and second engagement members includes a guidinggroove along the inner surface, the guiding groove adapted for guidingthe plurality of first locking members therealong whereby the first andsecond engagement members may be coupled together and rotated withrespect to each other.

The objects of the present invention are obtained by means of anapparatus for releasable attachment, the apparatus including a pair ofengagement members in which both engagement members include cooperativeguiding surfaces and support surfaces for centering the two engagementmembers around a joint symmetry axis, the guiding surfaces and supportsurfaces on the one hand being in the form of external surfaces on oneof the engagement members, which form a dome-shaped figure, and on theother hand being in the form of internal surfaces on the otherengagement member, which forms a cup-shaped figure, or vice versa, andthe adjustment members being adapted for keeping the locking members ina disengagement position during a first engagement position and forkeeping the locking members in a locking position during a finalengagement position, while the two engagement members are coupledtogether and the interior surfaces are in close contact with, and arecentered around, the exterior surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further described in the followingdetailed description, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first engagement member formingpart of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side, elevational view of the first engagement member shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom, perspective view of a second engagement memberforming part of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side, elevational, cross-sectional view of the secondengagement member shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top, perspective view of the first engagement memberassembled with a fixture for attachment to a vehicle seat;

FIG. 6 is a front, perspective view of the corresponding engagementmember when mounted on a vehicle seat;

FIG. 7 is a side, elevational, cross-sectional view of the twoengagement members shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in a separated state;

FIG. 8 is a side, elevational, cross-sectional view of the twoengagement members shown in FIG. 7 in a first engagement position;

FIG. 9 is a side, elevational, cross-sectional view of the twoengagement members shown in FIG. 7 in a final engagement position;

FIG. 10 is a top, elevational, schematic view of an adjustment mechanismforming part of the first engagement member of the present invention;and

FIG. 11 is a side, perspective, schematic, partial view of an adjustmentmechanism forming part of the first engagement member of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The attachment apparatus according to the present invention consists oftwo basic members, the principal construction of which is apparent fromFIGS. 1-4. The first basic member, which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is afirst engagement member 1, which is intended to be anchored to a mobileunit, for example, a vehicle seat. The second basic member, which isshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is a second engagement member 2, which isintended to be mounted to the underside of an object which is adaptedfor releasable attachment and fastening to the mobile unit. The firstengagement member 1 presents guiding surfaces and support surfaces, 3and 4, which are intended to cooperate with corresponding surfaces inthe second engagement member 2 such that the second engagement membercan be supported by, as well as attached to, the first engagement memberin a rigid and reliable manner. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 4,the first engagement member is designed as a raised dome-shaped sectionwhich is essentially conical, with an envelope surface which forms aguiding surface as well as a support surface or bearing surface for thesecond engagement member 2. In order for the attachment apparatus toobtain a reasonable overall height, the angle of the conical surface isrelatively small, although that angle can vary to a considerable extent,depending upon the particular mounting environment in question. At acircumferential guiding edge which runs around the engagement member andwhich is shown example as being circular, the conical guiding surfaceand support surface 3 transforms into the guiding surface and supportsurface 4, which in the example has the shape of a cylindrical jacket.Alternatively, the guiding surface and support surface 4 may have theshape of a conical jacket, which increases the guiding effect.

In order to lock the engagement members, 1 and 2, to each other, alocking device 6 is provided, which comprises a number of lockingmembers, 7-10, which are arranged in the first engagement member 1 andwhich are adapted for cooperation with the locking members, 11-14, inthe second engagement member 2, which will be described in greaterdetail below. In order to adjust the locking members, the engagementmembers, 1 and 2, are provided with an adjustment mechanism, 15 and 16,for adjustment between a disengagement position, in which the engagementmembers may be coupled together and separated from each other,respectively, and a locking position, in which the engagement membersare locked to each other in a fixed relative position. The adjustmentmechanism will be described in greater detail below.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a preferred embodiment which is adapted to a systemfor attachment of, for example, a child's seat in a seat 17 in a motorvehicle, such as a passenger car 18. In this regard, the engagementmember 1 is arranged on a frame 19 having four fixing points, 20, 21,22, and 23, in the form of hook-like, self-locking elements, which areintended to be attached to corresponding fixing points in the vehicleseat. This arrangement, which constitutes a fixture having four fixingpoints, is suggested, as a standardized solution for several passengercar models, but in this case it serves as an adapter, by means of whichthe frame with four fixing points can be permanently mounted in thevehicle seat, whereas the two engagement members, 1 and 2, form thearrangement for releasable attachment of the child seat to the vehicleseat. The frame 19 may be designed in several different ways. Forexample, it may be provided with folding links 24 which are intended tofold the frame members 25, which are protruding downwards, into astorage position. The engagement member 1 may be attached to the framein a number of different ways, but may, for example, be attached bymeans of a supporting plate 26 which extends between support members,and which supports the engagement member 1, or it may be attached bymeans of a number of cross bars. By means of a switch lever 26′, theengagement member 1 is adjustable to different degrees of inclination inrelation to the frame, which is shown in the example. In this manner,the inclination of the child seat may be individually adjusted todifferent inclinations of the seat.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a more detailed example of the constructionof the locking device 6 and the adjustment mechanism, 15 and 16, theconstruction being intended for adjustment between a disengagementposition and a locking position.

The above-mentioned locking members, 7-10, in the locking device 6 inthe first engagement member 1, which in this example constitutes a lowerengagement member, form sideways directed pins, which projectessentially radially through openings 24, in both an unaffected initialposition and also in a locking position, as will be described in detailbelow, pass through the cylindrical wall which forms the support surface4 of the engagement member 1. In the example, the locking pins are fourin number and are equally divided over the circumference of theengagement member, but both their number and placement can be varied toa considerable extent. The locking pins, 6 and 9, constitute externalends of locking bars, 6′ and 9′, which extend through holes, 6″ and 9″,in a stay tube 27, which projects downwards from the internal side ofthe engagement member 1. The guiding surfaces and support surfaces, 3and 4, including the guiding edge 5, of the engagement member 1, areconcentric around an axis of symmetry 32 for the engagement member 1.

As is most apparent from FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the second engagement member2 presents an internal form which is adjusted to the external, upwardlyturned dome-shaped form of the first engagement member, the internalform having an internal cup-shaped space 28, which is adapted forengagement with the external form of the engagement member 1. Thus, theengagement member 2 presents corresponding guiding surfaces and supportsurfaces, 29 and 30, which extend concentrically around an axis ofsymmetry 32 for the engagement member 2. In the example, one of theguiding surfaces and support surfaces 29 comprises a similarly conicalenvelope surface, although it is sufficient that the engagement member 2presents support surfaces which extend annularly, or supporting headswhich are situated at suitable locations and at suitable heights, bymeans of which the engagement member 2 obtains a rigid support againstthe lower engagement member while these members are coupled together.The support surface 30, however, is preferably uniform with the supportsurface 4 in the lower engagement member, which results in a dimensionaldeviation which provides a suitable tolerance.

The support surface 30 is formed by a wall 31 having the shape of acylindrical jacket. The lower parts of the support surface 30 and thewall 31 are terminated by an edge 31′ which runs around the engagementmember and which, in the example, is circular and in practice forms aguiding edge for cooperation with the guiding surface 4 and the guidingedge on the lower engagement member 1, which will be described ingreater detail below. The wall 31 presents locking members, 11-14, inthe form of through holes, the number and the locations of which aresuitably adjusted to the number and the locations of the locking pins,6-9. It is, however possible to arrange a larger number of holes,provided that locking positions in several alternative torsionalpositions of the upper engagement member 2 in relation to the lowerengagement member 1 is desired. As is apparent from rigs, 3 and 7, thesupport surface presents a groove 121 which runs around the engagementmember and between the holes, 12, 13 and 14, the groove being adaptedfor accommodating the locking pins, 6 and 9, in positions between theholes, which will be described in greater detail below.

The above-mentioned adjustment members, 15 and 16, are adapted forcooperation with the locking members 6 in such a way that it is possibleto readjust the adjustment members between a disengagement position andan engagement position. In the example, the adjustment member 15 in thelower engagement member 1 comprises a centrally, essentiallycylindrical, depressible section, which is at least linearly movable inthe longitudinal direction of the symmetry axis 32. The depressiblesection 15 presents a pressure plate 33 which is adapted for cooperationwith code members, 34 and 35, which project downwards and slightlyeccentrically from the interior of the upper engagement member 2. Inorder to disengage the locking device, a centrally located adjustmentmember 36 is provided, which may be raised or lowered by means of acontrol handle 37, which, as is best seen from FIG. 4, is arranged suchthat it is easily accessible from the exterior of the upper engagementmember 2 and which is rotatably arranged in the upper engagement memberaround a link 38.

According to the present invention, the adjustment member 15 on thelower engagement member is arranged such that its movement between aninitial position according to FIG. 7 and a depressed position accordingto FIG. 8 results in an adjustment movement of the locking members, 6-9,in the lower engagement member. This adjustment can be accomplished inseveral different ways, and in the example which is shown in FIGS. 7-9,it has been solved by means of oblique slits 15, in wall sections in theadjustment member. Transversal pins 15″ project into the slits 15′, thetransversal pins being fixedly attached to the internal ends of thelocking bars, 6′ and 9′. In this manner, movement of the depressiblesection 15 is transformed in the direction of the axle 32 into radialadjustment of the locking members, 6 and 9.

FIGS. 10 and 11 schematically show an additional example of a mechanismfor transmission of the movement between the adjustment member 15 andthe locking members, 6-9. In this example, the locking bars 25 are notentirely radially directed, but are fixed eccentrically in theadjustment member 15, which consists of a push button 39 which cannot beturned but which is axially movable along the symmetry axis 32, and arotary disc 40 which can be turned around the symmetry axis. This rotarymotion is accomplished by means of spiral cams 39′ on the push button,the spiral cams extending through recesses 40′ In the rotary disc 40. Inthis regard, the code members, 34 and 35, of the upper engagement memberare intended to depress the push button, which creates the rotary motionof the rotary disc by means of its axial movement, and thus alsolongitudinal displacement motion of the locking bars which are fixed inthe rotary disc, which thereby creates the adjustment movement of thelocking bars, 6-9.

Apart from the above-described basic mechanisms of the locking membersand the adjustment members and the code members, 34 and 35, theengagement members in the example are provided with additional codemembers, 41′ and 42′ (see FIG. 1). In the example, these additional codemembers are arranged as an arc-shaped groove 41 in the lower engagementmember which is adapted for cooperation with a pilot 42, which isintended to project downwards into the groove from the interior of theupper engagement member. The arc-shaped groove has a limited angularextension, for example 180°. This provides a relative pivoting movementbetween the two engagement members over a limited angular interval,which, for example, makes it possible for a child seat to be situatedcrossways a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, followed by a rotarymotion, for example, by 90°, to an engagement position.

With reference to, in the first place, FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the attachmentapparatus, and the manner in which it is used, for example, to attach achild's seat to a car seat, and the manner in which the child's seat isreleased, shall now be described in a comprehensive manner. In thisregard, FIG. 7 shows entirely schematically the contour of a lowersection of a child's seat 41, on the underside of which the upperengagement member 2 is mounted. When the child seat and the upperengagement member 2 are completely separated from the lower engagementmember 1, the adjustment member 15 in the lower engagement member islocated in an initial position, i. e. it is not depressed. This positionis maintained by means of springs, for example pressure springs, whichkeep the locking members 6 in an outwardly projecting position, i.e. alocking position, which also keeps the adjustment member 15 in itsupper, nondepressed, position.

FIG. 8 shows the two engagement members, 1 and 2, in a connectedposition, in which the child's seat is adjusted from the side in such away that the upper engagement member 2 has been brought down on andcentered upon the lower engagement member. By means of cooperationbetween, on the one hand, the guiding surfaces, 3 and 4, and the guidingedge in the upper engagement member and, on the other hand, the guidingsurfaces, 29 and 30, and the edge 31, in the upper engagement member,the two engagement members are forced into a rigid support positionwhich is centered around the central axle 32. In this manner, thedownwardly projecting code members, 34 and 35, in the upper engagementmember will press against the pressure area 42 of the adjustment member15 and thereby press said adjustment member down by means of which thelocking pins, 6-9, are kept in a withdrawn position. In this regard, thelocking members, 6-9, are not entirely recessed in the lower engagementmember 1 and are also most likely not situated right in front of theholes, 11-14, but project into the guiding groove 12, which runs aroundthe engagement member. This provides a temporary locking position, inwhich position the upper engagement member 2 can be rotated without arisk of the arrangement turning over. After that, the child's seat 41 isrotated approximately a quarter of a turn while the locking members 10run in the guiding groove 12′, whereupon the eccentrically situatedadjustment pins, 34 and 35, are allowed to project downwardly in thecorresponding recesses, 43 and 44, when the rotary motion has resultedin the recesses being situated in front of the pins. In this manner, thedepressing action against the pressure area 33 ceases and the adjustmentmember 15 springs back towards its initial position (see FIG. 9). Bymeans of the fact that the slits 15′ are cooperating with the lockingmembers 6, which in this regard are situated in front of thecorresponding openings, 11-14, in the upper engagement member, thelocking pins are brought to a locking position, which is due to the factthat the locking pins are inserted into the corresponding openings. Inthis manner, the locking pins, 6-9, are synchronized to such extent thatall of the locking pins are brought along in this movement.

The fact that a complete locking position has been secured is withadvantage indicated by means of the fact that the external ends of thelocking pins, 6-9, are marked with a clearly visible color marking, theends protrude to such an extent that they are easily observed by a user.In order to avoid the ends of the locking members from hitching onto anyedge areas, the ends are slightly rounded off. Thus, if a locking pinjams or in any other way is obstructed, the locking pin will not beadjusted to a locking position.

When the two engagement members are coupled together, the attachmentapparatus can be completely load carrying, wherein the arrangementmanages very large retarding forces in the locking position, whichprovides for a high degree of safety in the event of a traffic accident.

In order to disengage the attachment apparatus, the control handle 37 isdepressed into the adjustment member 16, and the movable adjustment pin36 is thus forced to depress the adjustment member 15 by means of asection, which in the example is raised. This results in the lockingmembers, 6-9, being recessed from the locking position to thedisengagement position, wherein the child seat can be raised andremoved. The above-mentioned groove 121, which runs circularly betweenthe holes, 11-14, provides for guiding of the locking taps both duringdisengagement and while the upper engagement member 2 is rotated, bymeans of which there is no risk of the child's seat turning over duringthe rotary motion of approximately a quarter of a turn, which makes iteasier to lift the seat through a door opening. Thus, the disengagementis executed in two steps, which can be adjusted by means of the controlhandle 37, which can be provided with two defined positions by means of,for example, a retaining mechanism.

The above-described attachment apparatus can have several differentapplications. For example, objects other than child seats may beattached, such as a safe-deposit box in, for example, a luggage boot, ananimal cage, etc. The attachment apparatus may also be used for mobileunits other than cars, such as, for example, for attachment of a child'sseat or a perambulator inset to a perambulator frame. By means of theattachment apparatus, a child's seat may also be attached to a bicycle,etc. Furthermore, the attachment apparatus may have a construction otherthan the above-described construction. The example shows an entirelyrotary symmetrical embodiment, but it is also possible to replace theconical surface with planar surfaces, such as, for example, a polygonalpyramid, by means of which the rotational position will be defined in asecure way.

Inversely, the cup-shaped engagement member 2 can be arranged in theframe, while the dome-shaped engagement member 1 can be turned downwardsand be arranged in the releasable member.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for the releasable attachment of anobject to a movable unit, said apparatus comprising: a first engagementmember having a first guiding support surface adapted to be fixed tosaid movable unit, and a second engagement member having a secondguiding support surface adapted to cooperate with said first guidingsupport surface and to be fixed to said object, whereby, when engagedwith each others said first and second engagement members are adapted tobe centered about a common axis of symmetry, one of said first andsecond guiding support surfaces comprising an outer surface of one ofsaid first and second engagement members and said other of said firstand second guiding support surfaces comprising an inner surface of theother of said first and second engagement members, said first engagementmember including a plurality of first locking members and said secondengagement member including a plurality of second locking members forcooperating with said plurality of said first locking members, wherebysaid first and second engagement members can be adjusted between a firstrelative position in which said plurality of first locking members andsaid plurality of said second locking members are disengaged, and asecond relative position in which said plurality of first lockingmembers and said plurality of second locking members are lockinglyengaged, and a first adjustment member affixed to one of said first andsecond engagement members and second adjustment member affixed to theother of said first and second engagement members for adjusting saidplurality of first locking members and said plurality of second lockingmembers between said first and second relative positions.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said one of said first and second guidingsupport surfaces defines a dome-shaped surface and said other of saidfirst and second guiding support surfaces defines a cup-shaped surface.3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one of said first and secondguiding support surfaces comprises a first surface provided at an anglewith respect to said axis of symmetry and a second surface providedsubstantially parallel to said axis of symmetry.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein said first surface has the shape of a conical jacket. 5.The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second surface has the shape of acylindrical jacket.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pluralityof first locking members comprises a plurality of locking pinssubstantially radially projecting with respect to said axis of symmetryfor engagement with said plurality of second locking members when saidfirst and second engagement members are in said second relativeposition.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of secondlocking members comprises a plurality of recesses corresponding to saidplurality of locking pins.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidfirst adjustment member comprises an axially movable member movablebetween an initial position and a depressed position, whereby saidaxially movable member can be in said depressed position when said firstand second engagement members are in said first relative position and insaid initial position when said first and second engagement members arein said second relative position.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 whereinsaid first adjustment member is associated with said first engagementmember and said second adjustment member is associated with said secondengagement member, said first engagement member including aperturesmeans and said second engagement member including correspondingprojection means, whereby when said first and second engagement membersare engaged with each other and said projection means are not engaged insaid aperture means, said projection means urges said axially movablemember into said depressed position, and when said projection means areengaged in said aperture means said axially movable member is in saidinitial position.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plurality offirst locking members are connected to said axially movable memberwhereby when said plurality of first locking members are disengaged fromsaid plurality of second locking members said axially movable member isin said depressed position and when said plurality of first lockingmembers are engaged with said plurality of second locking members saidaxially movable member is in said initial position.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 9 wherein said second adjustment member includes a control handle,said control handle being engageable with said axially movable memberwhereby when said control handle is actuated to depress said axiallymovable member said plurality of first locking members is disengagedfrom said plurality of second locking members.
 12. Apparatus for thereleasable attachment of a child's seat to a motor vehicle, saidapparatus comprising: a first engagement member having a first guidingsupport surface adapted to be affixed to said motor vehicle and a secondengagement member having a second guiding support surface adapted tocooperate with said first guiding support surface and to be fixed tosaid child seat, whereby, when engaged with each other, said first andsecond engagement members are adapted to be centered about a common axisof symmetry, one of said first and second guiding support surfacescomprising an outer surface of one of said first and second engagementmembers and said other of said first and second guiding support surfacescomprise an inner surface of the other of said first and secondengagement members, said first engagement member including a pluralityof first locking members and said second engagement member including aplurality of second locking members for cooperation with said pluralityof first locking members, whereby said first and second engagementmembers can be adjusted between a first relative position in which saidplurality of first locking members and said plurality of second lockingmembers are disengaged and a second relative position in which saidplurality of first locking members and said plurality of second lockingmembers are lockingly engaged, a first adjustment member affixed to oneof said first and second engagement members and a second adjustmentmember affixed to the other of said first and second engagement membersfor adjusting said plurality of first locking members and said pluralityof second locking members between said first and second relativepositions.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said other of saidfirst and second engagement members includes a guiding groove along saidinner surface, said guiding groove adapted for guiding said plurality offirst locking members therealong whereby said first and secondengagement members may be coupled together and rotated with respect toeach other.